baptiste power flow immersion

by jenna on September 22, 2011

Whew! I made it!

When I think about recapping the past week, I honestly don’t even know where to start. I could tell you that it was amazing, that it powerful, even that it was life changing but putting words to such an experience almost seems impossible. Bear with me.

From the moment I got off the plane on Sunday, it was go go go go go. I met up with my roomies at the Denver airport and together we made the trek to Estes Park. It was my first visit to Colorado and I am….SMITTEN! Colorado friends, can I come live with you? I am thoroughly obsessed with your beautiful state, even though I didn’t see an elk, which was my goal for the entire week.

That night, we had a welcome session with Baron and he introduced the staff of senior Baptiste teachers that would be leading sessions during the week. Not really knowing what I was getting myself into then, I realize now what an amazing opportunity it was to practice with these awesome teachers from all over the country. On top of getting to practice with Baron for four hours each day (not as scary as it sounds–promise!), I took two amazing breakout sessions—-Yoga of Service in Action with Paige and Inversions with Kelly. We also watched the premiere of The Africa Yoga Project documentary, which was a whole other experience in itself.

The first day when Baron posed the question “why are you here?”, I really didn’t have a good response. Because I’ve practiced yoga for eight years? Because I want to be a yoga teacher someday? Because it’s a trip to the Rocky Mountains? However, my class with Paige really changed that.

I know, without a doubt, I was there to take that class and connect more with The Africa Yoga Project (AYP). In her class, we discussed how take yoga off the mat and into real life and serving others. Hearing Paige’s story about how she moved from New York to the slums of Kenya to start this life-changing project was, quite simply, transformational. Since AYP’s beginning a few years ago, she has helped to provide hundreds of Kenyans with yoga teacher jobs as well as build schools, community centers and spread the love of yoga in a poverty stricken area. It spoke straight my heart and gave my personal practice a whole other (much) larger purpose. I am so excited for October 2nd!

My time in Estes Park really transformed me as a yogi and a person. As a natural introvert, I was “forced” to get out of my box a little bit and connect with others who I might normally not have gotten a chance to connect with. As much as the week was about the physical yoga practice, it was also about life in general. I really think that going to this was one of the best thing things I’ve ever done for myself in terms of personal growth and awareness. I was able to push myself to new limits both mentally and physically (hellooooo handstands!), and connect with so many amazing people. I learned that the answer to how is YES and I was ready right where I was….no waiting around, just do it!

I really look look forward to attending more Baptiste events in the future and if you guys ever get a chance to go to one….DO IT. I promise you won’t regret it. Practicing yoga in a room of 500 people was almost electrifying, and the breakout sessions and discussions were thought provoking and authentic. It’s funny to me how many people consider yoga to just be a way to work their abs. To me, yoga is what happens when we take what we learn on the mat and use it to empower ourselves and the people around us.

Yoga really is not about the postures. It’s all about the “other” stuff. Glad you had a great trip. And, I’m amazed you still kept up with the blog during it. Do you plan to travel overseas to help with these types of organizations in the future or teach at home? Do I foresee a career change from food?

So many congratulations and happiness for your experience, I love yoga so much and I love that you love it too! So glad that you had SUCH a wonderful time at the Baron Baptiste immersion – I can only imagine how powerful a few days that was. Incredible, I’m sure, and something I would love to do!
Thank you for writing about your passion and experience, it is so wonderful to read and connect with – yoga is such a powerful practice on and off the mat, and the community is a blessing! <3 I'm going to Colorado next week and cannot wait to practice there – you've made me even more stoked from your rave reviews of the state. And I'm going to Yoga to the People in New York which I'm so excited about – I love their podcasts so much! <3 <3 Aaah, fun times. Namaste, Jenna! xyx

What an awesome opportunity! I love yoga, but I only get to practice it once every couple of weeks :-/ I really need to make more time for it. I also fell in love with Colorado, when I visited there a few years ago! If I could live anywhere else besides Chicago, I think Colorado would be it.

The word electrifying…yes! that’s what it feels like to be in the company and energy of 500 others who are all there wanting to learn and grow. The vibe, mood, energy, camaraderie, bonds formed over shared experiences; all so powerful.

Happy to hear it was a life-changer. I knew it would be. Every yoga retreat and workshop I have done always has been. More so about life and yoga off the mat, than on the mat, actually. Asanas are great; new poses and tackling them are fun, but the off the mat life-changing stuff is really the best gift ever.

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip! I went to Estes Park this summer for the first time and it was absolutely beautiful!!! We did see Elk, so next time you want to go, go in June! They are everywhere!

Thank you for such a great recap! I’m so excited that you got to experience such an amazing weekend with Baron and others. I am itching for a retreat or workshop…and low and behold, Rolf Gates is coming to Seattle this weekend…it’s my lucky day! I really enjoy reading about your yoga experiences and hope that you are able to take the training soon, it sounds like you would be a fab teacher!

Congrats on such a wonderful time! I worked in Estes Park (lived in Boulder) when I was younger and LOVE that place. I’m just SO glad you were able to experience such a wonderful place. I can’t believe you didn’t see any elk– those babies are all over all the time! You’ll definitely see one when you go back And Boulder is amazing. Plan to settle down there permanently You must visit it!

I did a yoga class last night for the first time in a long time and absolutely loved it. I’m going through a tough time right now with a break up and am determined to use healthy coping mechanisms instead of…wine :). I can only imagine what this experience was like for you! Yoga is such a powerful thing.

Looks like you really had a life changing trip. You have inspired me to get on my mat after almost two years away. I hope that I am able to connect with the way I used to.
Oh and did you decide that you are definitely going to become a yoga teacher now?

Yay! So happy to read about your amazing experience in my home state High-five for “taking yoga off the mat” and getting out into the community. I think we could all stand to volunteer our time and talents more.

Wow. I am so jealous of your experience! I started practicing yoga a little over a year ago and it is probably the only thing that helped me survive my senior year in college. I am so sad now that I cannot afford a membership at a studio anywhere around me and can only make free classes once a week. I hope that someday I can get to a place of being able to get to power classes multiple times a week and do what you did! How awesome for you!! Your spiritual fulfillment must be through the roof right now =)

You are quite the woman. I am inspired by your blog posts, especially this one. To seek out your higher purpose (and unintentionally it sounds!)…well, just reading about it gives me goosebumps. Thank you for your blog and sharing your story…and best wishes with your yoga journey.

Wow, amazing. Have you read Garance Dore’s blog about her (small but significant) journey with weight loss and the self loathing that was part of the hurdle? It’s a four part well written story and she finds peace about her body with yoga (and some running). Lately I’ve been feeling, exercise feels good, but I’m only doing it for looks lately. I want it to be more than that and you both are on the same wavelength.

Wow Jenna! It sounds like you had an amazing experience! Reading and gleaning from your words about how passionate you are about yoga really makes me want to break out of my comfort zone and go to a class. Finally.

What an amazing experience, and I’m so glad you enjoyed Colorado! I live just north of Boulder, and I love going up to Rocky Mountain National Park because it’s seriously such a beautiful area! I’m sorry you didn’t see any elk though! My parents were visiting from Michigan last week, and I took them up to Estes Park and we saw a bunch of elk…but we had to get to the park at sunrise though (I’ve got a bunch of the pics of the elk on my blog so you can see elk with out having to wake up at dark o’clock…) Also the Africa Yoga Project sounds like an awesome opportunity, can’t wait to hear more about it! I used to be kind of a yoga-hater (because it wasn’t super intense cardio, I used to feel like it was a waste), but since I moved out to Colorado I’ve had the opportunity to practice with some amazing instructors and my views have totally changed, I love it now! Yay yoga! xoxo

Ps: I just finished reading Secret Daughter per your recommendation and I loved it, so thanks!! I just did a review on my blog yesterday and I gave you a shoutout!

“It’s funny to me how many people consider yoga to just be a way to work their abs. To me, yoga is what happens when we take what we learn on the mat and use it to empower ourselves and the people around us.”

I agree 100%. It’s amazing how many people I see who practice yoga without actually… really…practicing yoga.

I am just beginning down the yoga teacher training path, with a teacher who has been taught in anusara and jivamukti styles. I haven’t even met the group yet and it’s already a whirlwind of wonderfulness! I look forward to hearing about when you embark on that journey!!

That Baptiste event seems like an amazing experience, I’m so incredibly happy for you! I can feel your enthusiasm and excitement right through my computer screen

So glad this was such a great experience! You remind me how I must get to an event like this again! I did a great teacher training in SF through It’s Yoga and I heard they (Larry and Marie) moved their studio up to Sonoma! You should do a training there. They are really great and convenient because it’s only 3-4 weeks. You seem to me like you’d be a fantastic teacher.
You should also check out Seane Corn. She’ll be at the Yoga Journal Conference in January. You’d love her.
Good luck!

Sounds like a life-changing opportnity!!! Thanks for taking the time to share. I know when you are immersed in such a spiritual and emotional journey, it is often hard to turn it into words, and I think you did a great job! Were there all levels of yog there?